Street Food Saturdays – A Unique Jamaican Riverside Picnic
Located in the hills of Mount James, St. Andrew, Jamaica - Street Food Saturdays, brings the unique way of dining in the river. Hosted by Chef Walker-Barrett, it is held every last Saturday of the month. There are two time slots 11:00 a.m to 1:30 p.m. or 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
How to get there
Street Food Saturdays is located 20 minutes from Manor Park, head straight to Golden Spring, when you arrive at the square you will take a right turn at the Total gas station. Continue straight where you will drive over a bridge. There is no turn off, you will be guided by several directional signs on the way. It might be a little tricky for those who are car sick as the roads are narrow and winding.
When you get there, there is ample free parking. You will have to walk about 3 minutes to the venue, you will be greeted by friendly staff, who will check your reservations and take you to your seats. You have to walk in the river, so ensure you have footwear that is waterproof.
Once seated, your pre-ordered food will take 10-15 minutes to be served. I took the opportunity to walk around and take some pics of the scenery. The atmosphere was nice, even though the sun was out, there was lots of shade and your feet being in the river, was a great advantage.
The Food Experience
I got the meat lovers platter which consisted of Tamarind Chicken, Guava Glazed Turkey Neck, Pork Belly, Pastrami Sliders with Fry Bread, Chorizo Marinara Pasta and 1 Lemonade. The total cost for this was $9,800, which can be shared between 2 persons. So, I shared with a friend which meant I spent $4,900.
The food was ok to me, it was bit salty especially the pork belly. What I enjoyed was the Tamarind chicken and the pasta. I figured, that since the platter advertised was for 2 persons we expected to get 2 drinks with our order, but we only got 1. So, we had to go to the shop next door to buy extra drinks. Overall, I would give the food taste 7/10.
The Overall Experience
In all the experience was just ok, the drive out was a nice, if you are looking for a get away from the Kingston hustle. The price point could have been a bit better as well. Dining in the river was a unique experience, it was very relaxing, and I enjoyed it. After dining, I walked around the community and took pics, the people in the community are very friendly.
Things to Note
Google maps is not accurate for the location, so it’s important to get proper directions BEFORE you head there. Also note that cell reception is very poor so we found that when we had a hard time finding the location, we could not call for directions.
Wear something cool, preferable shorts
Wear waterproof shoes
Children are allowed
Carry repellent